Today's News

Edwardsville (Illinois) Intelligencer on school shootings (Jan. 20):
Something must be done — soon
There are heroes and there are victims. There are those who go to prison and those who take their own lives.
The scenes of police officers surrounding school buildings have become common. Much too common.
Guns and students don’t mix.
But lately, they have become regular headlines.
In 2013, there were 29 shootings at elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and colleges across the country.

The Literacy Council of Northeastern New Mexico, a division of the Las Vegas Arts Council, will be hosting its sixth annual Literacy Fair from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Abe Montoya Recreation Center gymnasium.

The theme for this year’s event is based on the Native American dream catcher and tradition of storytelling: “Make Your Dreams Come True: Read, Read, Read!”

To encourage writing, everyone has been invited to submit a short story which will be displayed at the fair.

TODAY HOY
• Film screening and discussion on “The Trials of Muhammad Ali,” 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24 at Old Town Mission, adjacent to Rio Gallinas School. Special guest is Maria Santelli, executive director of the Center of Conscience and War in Washington, D.C. Free and open to all. For more information, call the Las Vegas Peace and Justice Center at 425-3840.

Submit your calendar items and notices to mlopez@lasvegasoptic.com
• The San Miguel Unit of the American Red Cross helps with any natural disaster and house fires. Persons interested in becoming a member are asked to contact Contact Connie Chavez at 425-6224. Meetings are held every third Thursday at 6 p.m. in Faith Hall.
• The San Miguel County DWI Safe-Ride-Home Service operates from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Rides are provided in the Las Vegas area from liquor establishments to your home, for service call 429-0336.

Remedial help needed in NM
SANTA FE — A new study says approximately half of the New Mexico students attending the state’s colleges and universities aren’t ready academically and that it’s costly for the state.
The student released by the Legislative Finance Committee says 51 percent of the students needed remedial courses last year and that the cost was $22 million.

SANTA FE — The attorney general of New Mexico has said he will likely appeal a ruling in a landmark lawsuit that terminally ill patients can seek a physician’s aid in dying.

Attorney General Gary King was considering the appeal after Santa Fe Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan urged the action during a breakfast with lawmakers, King told the Santa Fe New Mexican in a story Wednesday.

SANTA FE — A proposed gambling compact with the Navajo Nation ran into opposition Wednesday from other tribes and pueblos in New Mexico because it would allow the Navajos to open additional casinos.

In testimony to a legislative committee, leaders from Laguna and Acoma pueblos and the Jicarilla Apache Nation said that more casinos would dilute their share of a saturated gambling market, possibly forcing them to cut tribal services and reduce the workers in their casinos.

Mora resident received her doctorate degree from University of New Mexico. Phyllis Martinez, a native of Mora, received her doctorate degree in educational leadership in the December graduation. Her dissertation was the study of bilingual education at the high school level. To garner the information for her dissertation she spent hours interviewing staff members, parents and students.